Apparatus for purifying liquids.



P. P. SMIT H. APPARATUS POR PURIFYING LIQUIDS.

Patented June 8, 1909.

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I'. P. SMITH.

APPARATUS FOB. PURIPYING LIQUIDS. V-

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8,1906.

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I. P. SMITH.

APPARATUS PoR PURIFYING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.8,1906.

Patented June 8, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lflto'buu'- F. P. SMITH.

APPARATUS FOR PURIFYING LIQUIDS.

r APPLIUATION FILED IBB. s, 190e. 924,285.

Patented June 8, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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M. @www arr FRED I. SMITH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0FONE-HALF TO EDWARD C. LEWIS,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND JOHN NERS.

H. KITCHEN, OF KANSAS CITY,

MISSOURI, COPART- APPARATUS FOR PURIFYIN G LIQUIDS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, F RED P. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forPurifying Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to apparatus for purifying liquids; and isdesigned more particularly for the deposition and removal of solidmatters from sewage; for the puriiication of water; and for like uses.

The invention consists in various novel features which will be set forthin detail herein, prominent among which, however, may be mentioned asector-shaped settling tank or chamber having two separate compartments,one above the other, and having both the inlet and the discharge openinglocated at or near the apex, so that a relatively long travel of theliquid may be obtained within a comparatively limited area or groundspace, and the liquid may be caused gradually to spread over a greaterarea, and consequently to move more slowly as the process of depositingthe suspended matters progresses, and whereby the area is reduced andthe flow hastened as the final outlet is approached. Provision is alsomade for drawing oft the liquid from either chamber or compartment of atank at will, and in the case of a plurality of tanks, provision is madefor causing a ow to take place from one to another, when deemedadvisable.

My invention is illustrated by the accom panying drawings in which,

Figure l is a plan view of a plant or apparatus constructed inaccordance with my invention, portions being broken away to dili'erentlevels to show the construction and arrangement of the chambers,passages, etc.; Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;Fig. 3, a section similar to Fig. 2, except that it is on a larger scaleand that portions are broken away or omitted to permit such largerscale; Fig. 4, a vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 6; Fig. 5, avertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6, a horizontal sectionon` the line 6 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a vertical section of a tank havinga plurality of cross partitions and showing one of said partitionsstopping below the roof of the chamber, the vents g being in such caseomitted. p v

In a structure or apparatus of this character, it is desirable tocentralize or group within as small a space as practicable allControlling apparatus, such as inlets and outlets, controlling valves,and the like, and, as far as is consistent with proper travel andtreatment of the liquid, to keep the apparatus within as small an areaas possible. It isialso desirable to adopt a unit system ofconstruct-ion, whereby the capacity of the apparatus may be increasedproportionately with the increasing requirements, without replanning ordesigning, and by merely duplicating or multiplying what is contained inthe first construction. IVith these objects in view, I adopt aconstruct-ion illustrated in the drawings, comprising a centralstructure, preferably of circular or substantially circular form,containing the various inlet and outlet pipes, valves, etc., andradiating therefrom a series of sector shaped chambers, each of whichis, or may be, identical with its companions in all particulars.

Referring to these drawings, A indicates the central building orstructure, and B, B, &c. a series of sector-shaped chambers, groupedabout or radiating from said central structure. The central structure Amay conveniently consist of three concentric walls a, .7), and c,suitably roofed over or inclosed and constituting, between the walls aand b, and Z) and c, annular receptacles el and c, which latter may beagain divided by a wall j, to produce the additional trough or conduitg. rllhe trough or conduit g is designed to receive the liquid to betreated, which is delivered to said trough by a pipe sewer or otherconductor C. The inner end 'of the trough g opens into the larger troughc. The receptacle e is preferably made in the form of a trough ofsemi-circular cross section, and the receptacle Z is represented asmerely an annular well, the bottom of which is at the same level withthe bottom of the sector-shaped chambers or tanks B. The trough c hasits bottom at approximately the same level as the upper compartment ofthe chamber B, while a space is left beneath the trough e of a heightequal to that of the lower compartment of the chamber B, or thereabout.

Each chamber B is of sector-shape, its two side walls being radial tothe center of the structure A, as shown in Figs. l and 6. Each chamber Bis provided with a horizontal partition it, forming a floor for theupper compartment and a roof for the lower compartment. rlhis partitionfor a portion of its length slopes toward the central structure A, andfor the remainder of its length may be horizontal, or, and as ispreferred, may incline outwardly or away from the central structure.

rlhe upper compartment B of each chamloer B is divided by a transversewall or partition z' into two sections, the partition serving the doublepurpose of partition and roof support, and being for that purpose pro-vvided with piers or columns y', which extend to the floor of the lowerchamber or compartment B2, so as to aid in carrying the horizontalpartition It. Similar columns are provided at frequent intervalsthroughout the area of each chamber. rit a point somewhat within theouter wall of each chamber B there is a vertical wall or partition la,which preferably rises nearly, but not quite to the roof of the chamber.In its lower portion, or that portion below the horizontal partition iv,this wall 7c is provided with an arch, or series of arches, throughwhich the liquid treated may pass into the space beneath said horizontalpartition, the space between the wall Z1; and the outer wall of thechamber forming a well or passage, as shown.

rJhe liquid to be treated flows from the trough g into the trough c, andthence through pipes Z into the upper compartments of the chambers B,each pipe being guarded by a gate or valve m, preferably moved by ascrew u provided with a hand wheel, as indicated in Figs. 8 and G.

l have shown in the drawings, a single pipe Z for each chamber B, andordinarily shall use but one, making this of adequate capacity to supplysuch chamber, though I may, if found desirable, use a plurality of suchvalved pipes. The partition z' of each chamber B is provided with aseries of openings 0, the aggregate area or capacity of which is equalto that of pipe Z. These openings are spaced at approximately' uniformdistances apart in the partition and all at one common level, so thatthe liquid entering the tirst section of the compartment B and spreadingout therein, as the space widens, will flow equally through each of saidopenings into the second section of the chamber Bf thus distributing theliquid evenly over the narrower end of the second section of thechamber. To insure like uniform spreading out and even flow of theliquid in all port-ions of the second section of the chamber B, the wallis similarly provided with a series of outlet openings j), arranged at acommon level and spaced with substantial uniformity of distance aparttherein. ln practice, deem it advisable to give te the inlet pipe Z asize or capacity approximately equal to the aggregate capacity of theopenings o of partition vf and to the aggregate capacity of the openingsor outlets ,n of the wall or partition Z?. This, however, is notessential. For the purpose of equalizing the pressure in the twosections of each chamber B incident to the compression of air throughthe inflow of the liquid or through generation or liberation of gases, lprovide the partition c' with a vent pipe or pipes Q at a point abovethe level ordinarily obtained by the liquid, and a like provision. ismade in the wall or partition below the horizontal wal-l or partitionthe tendency of the gases or contincd air being, of course, toaccumulate immediately beneath said tloor or partition. Further reliefis a'tl'orded for such accumulating air or gases by means of verticalpipes or vents fr, opening through the iloor or partition zV and risingto a suitable height in the upper compartment B of the chamber B. Thesepipes may extend above the liquid level in the chamber B', though lprefer to make them of less height since their capacity is limited, andthe quantity of liquid which might tlow through them prior to thecomplete filling of the lower chamber B is negligible. The roof s of thechambers B is provided at suitable points with man-holes Z havingremovable covers u which serve normally to prevent the escape of gasesand odors, but which all'ord means of entrance for the purpose ofcleaning or repairing the apparatus.

ythe outer` wall of the structure at those points opposite the innerends of the chambers B is provided with arches through which the liquidflows into the space beneath the trough c, and the walll Z) of saidcentral structure is provided with pipes e on a level with the bottomsof the chambers B2, or practically so, through which the liquid may passinto the annular well or chamber (Z of the central structure, as wellshown in Figs. 3 and (3.

The trough or tank c is divided by partitions or cross-walls fw into twocompartments, the main section c receiving the intlowing liquid, asabove explained, and the second section c communicating by openings orpassages a', formed through the wall Z) with the well eZ, as best shownin sl: and G. llfithin the section c of the trough or tank c l group aseries of discharge pipes y, each provided with a bell or cap with theupturned end of the pipe constituting a. trap or seal, the pipes beingfurther bentI to form a second seal at a point below the bottom of thechamber c, as shown in Fig. i. This construction forms a siphon, and thesiplions are adapted and arranged to operate successively to dischargethe liquid at any desired point, such, for instance, as ay filterbed.The liquid entering the well or chamber Z and passing through theopenings .c

A into the trough or tank e will rise to a level All ltlt) lof at leastequal to the top of the upturned end of the pipes y, hence said pipeswill, at all t-imes, be sealed in said chamber as well as below. l/Vhenthe liquid rises above the level. of the top of the upturned ends ofpipes y it will empty into said pipes, and by siphonic action reduce thelevel of the liquid in chamber e to that of the lower ends or mouths ofthe bells or caps a, but again the liquid will gradually rise until itreaches the level of the upturned ends of pipes y. In order that thesiphons may be brought into action successively, or that the dischargemay be made through any one or more of the pipes g/ at pleasure, saidpipes may be provided with valves y', as indicated in Figs. l and 6.

At a suitable point in the well QZ l provide an outlet opening a',connecting with a waste pipe or sewer ZJ, said outlet being controlledby a valve c', the operating stem of which rises through the well cZ andcarries, at a point above the floor cZ of the structure A, a suitablehand Wheel, by which to operate the valve. By opening the valve c thecontents of the well Z may at any time be discharged into the sewer orother outlet, whereas, when the valve is closed, the contents of saidchamber will be discharged when rising to the opening af, so that theymay flow into the chamber or section e of the tank or trough and escapethence by the pipes y.

It is desirable at times to establish communication between thedifferent chambers B, for which purpose I provide connecting pipes f,each having a gate or valve g by which it may be opened and closed.These are arranged in the walls separating the chambers and areessentially the same as the pipes Z, with their valves m, in the outerwall c of the central structure A. So too, it is at times desirable todischarge the contents of the inner section of the upper chamber Bdirectly into the well d, and to this end, l provide each chamber B withan outlet pipe ZL passing to the well (Z, as shown in 3 and-6, saidpipes being each furnished with a valve c", the stem of which risesabove the ioor of structure A and is provided with a hand wheel in thesame manner as the other valves already referred to.'

To effect a proper diffusion-or spreading of the infiowing current, lpreferably place opposite the mouth of the trough or inlet channel g, adeflector y" (Fig. 6) which divides the stream and directs one portionto the right and another to the left.

The apparatus being thus constructed, its operation is as follows: Theliquid, such as water carrying sediment or impurities, or sewage, orother liquid body requiring purification, is introduced into the troughc through the pipe C and trough or conduit g and flows thence by pipe,or pipes, Z into chamber or chambers B. As the action is the same ineach chamber, it will be suiiicient to describe the flow and operationin one such chamber. As the liquid enters at the smaller Vor narrowerend of the chamber B it spreads out over the floor in a constantlywidening stream or body, and as the width increases, the rate of flow,of course, decreases, producing the condition most conducive to thesettling or precipitation of the solid matters held in suspension by theliquid. rlihese matters are largely deposited in the irst section of thechamber B, through which the liquid iiows into the second and broadersection of said chamber. From said second section, relieved of thelarger and heavier matters previously carried by it, the liquid furtherspreads out by reason of the separated openings 0 and Hows still moreslowly through the second and larger section of chamber B, thuspermitting further and more complete depositing of sediment or mattersheld in suspension, the liquid finally iiowing out through the pipes oropenings p gradually and quietly. Passing from the upper chamber B intothe lower chamber B2 free from matters previously held in suspension, orsubstantially so, the purified liquid Hows toward the outlet e andenters the well eZ, whence it passes either to the section c of thetrough c and thence to the outlet pipes y, or directly to the outlet a',in case the valve c be open. If desired, the liquid may be treated inany desired way in the tank or trough c, or in the chambers B, B2, or inthe well Z or tank c. The treatment may be by or with the aid ofchemicals introduced to act upon the impurities carried by the liquid,either to facilitate their precipitation or coagulation, or to effectchemical reaction and change, or a septic may be introduced, orinherently propagated bacteria, according to the nat-ure of the resultsought. The particular mode or process of treatment is not a part of thepresent invention, which invention concerns only the structure itself.This structure ,is well adapted to the various modes or processes oftreating sewage and other liquids requiring' puriication, nowwell-known, whether such treatment be merely by sedimentation ordeposition, by septic, or by bacterial action. The chemicals, ifchemicals be used, may be introduced into either of the annularreceptacles CZ, e, the trough or of the sector-shaped chambers. Nofurther or special means for effecting such chemical treatment is hereincontemplated, my purpose in referring to such chemical treatment beingmerely to indicate that the apparatus herein described is adapte-dwit-hout change, alteration, or addition, for the carrying out ofwell-known systems or methods of chemical treatment. It will be observedthat the same central structure conduit g, or any 45 or chambersbeneath.

ttf

will answer for a plant of widely varying capacity, the sector shapedchambers being multiplied or added to from time to time, as occasionrequires, until the structure as- 5 sumes a substantially semi-circularform, or

even a larger section of a circle.

ln the drawings T have represented the chambers B as having straightouter walls, making up a polygonal instead of a regul larly curved outerwall, and this will be found convenient ordinarily, though it is notessential. The proportion of the chamber or trough c which shall begiven up to the outlet pipes or to the section e may l vary. It is hererepresented as constituting approximately one-halt the circle, butmaterially less than this will sufiice, the outlet pipes ,i/ beingcapable of closer arrangement and permitting a larger number ofsector-shaped chambers B to be employed.

I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide a sector-shaped chamberfor the treatment of sewage, in order to cause the sewage to enter atthe narrower and to tlow toward the wider end of such chamber, but

so far as T am aware, it has never before been proposed to make suchchamber with an upper and lower section, or with a horizontal partition,so that there may be effected in the one chamber the gradual diffusionor spreading` out of the liquid to facilitate deposition of suspendedmatter and concentration; and in the other chamber to direct and hastenthe outflow at one point. By

this superposition of the chambers, T obtain within limited area, arelatively long travel of the liquid under the conditions bestcalculated to insure deposit or precipitation of the solid matters, andT thereafter bring the puried, or relatively clear liquid, directlylighted and ventilated in any convenient manner and the central well,best shown in Fig. 3, may be utilized for any convenient purpose, as torinstance, to receive machinery of any kind required in connection withthe apparatus, or for heating and ventilating appliances, it such benecessary.

lllhile I have shown and described the apparatus arranged to receive theliquid in the tanks B above the partition 7L, and to discharge below thesame in each section or compartment, this arrangement may be re versedby using two or more tanks B in series, the liquid in such case enteringthe second tank or compartment at the bottom,

or below the partition, and rising thence to the upper chamber abovesaid partition. This is etiected with the apparatus above described inthe following manner: Liquid requiring treatment passes to the trough uand thence by pipe Z into one of the tank sections B, traversing firstthe upper chamber B, and then tiowing back beneath the partition Itthrough chamber B2, as under the normal operation be't'ore described.The outlet passage e of this chan'iber being closed, and the lateralpassage being open, the liquid passes thereby to the lower chamber B ot'the adjoining section, [lowing thence to the outer end of said chamber,and rising into the upper chamber B. From the upper chamber of thissecond section it may pass by the pipe /L to the well or chamber d', orit may be carried through the lat.- eral connecting pipe f to a thirdtank section or chamber B. ln this ay two or more settling tanks orchambers may be used in series, and this may be carried to any extentdesired. Since, however, the upper chamber is more readily accessiblefor clean ing than is the lower chamber, and the material depositedtherein may be more readily thrown out through the man holes in theroofs, it is preferred to eilect such precipitation in the upperchamber, and consequently to have the liquid enter such upper chaniberfirst, in each compartment or chamber B oi the apparatus.

l'Vith the construction just described the upper chamber may be cleanedout without removing the bacterial liquid contained in the lowerchamber, it being necessary only to have the liquid level drop down tothe approximate level of the tloor or partition Then the chambers B arecleaned and the solid matters removed, said chambersl may be flushed tothoroughly cleanse them, the waste water escaping by the pipes l1 to thewell c2, and thence by outlet a to the sewer or discharge.

lllhile T have shown and have referred to but one cross partition z'within the chamber B, it is obvious that more than one may be employed,it desired. 1While T have shown and prefer to construct the partition iof the. full height of the chamber, as to give additional support to theroof, it is obvious that it may stop short of said rooi', in the samemanner as does wall or partition Za In such event, the vents y may beomitted and the liquid may i'low over the top ot the partition, whichbeing made truly horizontal, will eilect an even distribution oi thewater from side to side of the chamber. l prefer, however,` theconstruction shown, not only because of the better support aittorded tothe roof, but also because T deem it advantageous to take oil theliquid, or permit its escape, from the first to the second section ofthe chamber B at a point below its upper level, so as to hold back anyscum that may lie upon its surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a tank, progressivelywidening horizontally from one end toward the other and provided with ahorizontal partition separating it into two chambers, one above theother, said tank being provided with an inlet and with an outlet at itsnarrower end, one above and the other below the horizontal partition.

2. In an apparatus for the treatmentof liquids, a tank of progressivelygreater horizontal width from one toward the other end, provided with ahorizontal partition, separating said tank into an upper and a lowerchamber, the upper chamber being provided at-a point between its endswith a cross partition having a series of openings through it at acommonlevel.

3. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a tank of progressivelygreater width from one toward the other end, provided with a horizontalpartition, separating the tank into an upper and a lower chamber, theupper chamber being provided at a point between its ends with a crosspartition, which serves to maintain a common level of liquid in thereceiving end or section of the tank, and to distribute the outflowuniformly from side to side of the chamber.

4. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a closed settling tankprovided with a substantially horizontal partition separating the tankinto an upper and a lower section, the upper section having a crosspartition or wall of less height than the side walls to hold back thesolid matters precipitated by the liquid, but over which the liquid mayflow, and the lower section serving as an outflow passage for theclarified liquid, substantially as set forth.

5. In apparatus for the septic treatment of liquids, a tank comprisingan upper and a lower chamber, communicating directly one with the otherand separated'by a substantially horizontal partition; a cross wall orpartition in the upper chamber serving as a sludge dam to hold back thematter settling in said chamber; an outlet for the liquid above thefloor of the upper chamber and at or near the top of the cross wall orpartition; and a roof or cover for the chamber, substantially asdescribed.

6. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a settling tank havingan upper and a lower chamber directly communicating with each other andadapted to contain liquid from the bottom of the lower chamber to apoint near the top of the upper chamber; and a cross wall or partitionin the upper chamber' having an outlet at or near its top forcommunication with the lower chamber, the upper chamber serving as apreliminary settling chamber and the lower chamber as an outlet or as asecondary settling chamber, as required.

V7. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a settling tank havingan upper and a lower compartment communicating freely with each other,the horizontal partition separating said compartments beingprovided'with a vent to permit the escape, from the lower into the uppercompartment, of air or gases collected in the lower compartment.

8. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids,a series of tanks, eachseparated by a substantially horizontal partition into an upper and alower chamber, each upper chamber provided with a cross wall orpartition having at or near its top an outlet or passage ofcommunication to the lower chamber; inlets into the upper chambers;pipes or passages connecting the upper chambers of separate tanks witheach other; pipes r or passages connecting the lower chambers ofseparate tanks with each other; outlets from the upper and from thelower chambers; and valves controlling the several outlets and thetank-connecting passages, whereby the liquid may be caused to flow indifferent directions and through two or more ofthe tanks in series.

9. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, a central structureinto which the liquid is received, and a plurality of sector shapedtanks grouped about the central structure and each communicatingindependently therewith, and each provided with a valve controlling suchcommunication, the several valves being located in the centralstructure.

l0. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, the combination of acentral structure; a plurality of sector-shaped tanks grouped about saidcentral structure; independent supply pipes opening from the centralstructure into said tanks, one for each;

and outlet pipes for said tanks opening therefrom into the centralstructure, one for each tank, the respective supply and outlet pipesbeing each provided with a valve, whereby each tank may be used orcontrolled independently of all the others.

l1. In an apparatus for the treatment of liquids, the combination of acentral structure containing a central well or chamber; an annular orcurved trough or chamber outside of said well; a settling tank exteriorto said trough and provided with an upper and a lower compartment; apipe connecting said trough with the upper compartment of the tank; anda second pipe connecting the lower compartment of the tank with thecentral well, substantially as described.

12. The herein described structure or apparatus for the treatment ofliquids7 consisting of a central structure A, comprising Well CZ,encircling trough e e, and tanks B provided with horizontal partition7L; pipes or passages connecting the trough e with the tanks B; pipes orpassages o connecting the tanks With the Well d; openings connecting theWell cl With the trough e and outlet pipes y opening from the trough c.

13. ln combination with the structure A provided With Well l and troughe, a tank B provided with horizontal partition 7L; a pipe /L ati'ordingcommunication between the space above the partition /t and the Well d;and a valve or gate controlling said pipe.

11i. In combination with structure A., comprising Well d and trough ortank e, settling tank B communicating with trough c and provided With ahorizontal partition 7L; a

'il pipe /t extending from the space above the partition /t to the Welld; and a valved outlet a opening from the bottom of the Well CZ.

l5. The herein described apparatus for the treatment of liquids,comprising a central structure A having a well Z and encircling trough ec; an inlet tor the trough c; an outlet for the Well Z aiiiordingcommunication with the trough e siphons opening out of trough c; asettling tank B (one or more) communicating with trough c and providedwith horizontal partition /z/ and cross partition 2'; valve outlet pipefu, connecting the lower compartment ot the tank B with the Well d; anda valved pipe It connecting the upper compartment ot the tank B withsaid well, substantiallyv as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilieation in thepresence et tivo subscribing Witnesses.

FRED l). SMITH. lWitnesses J. STEWART Rien, FANNIE Visr.

